I give independent medical advice to patients. Today I read that according to some official government agency 14% of adults in the US who see a doctor have a problem called back pain. I'm sure many of those people have other problems as well but this "statistic" tells me one important thing. Doctors are obviously not very efficient at clearing up "back pain" despite the massive amount of money they are raking in to "manage"it.
Let's consider some of the things modern medical care uses that are related to back problems:
pain management x-rays mri c-t scans surgery micro-surgery neurosurgery physical therapy acupuncture sports medicine dieticians chiropractors psychologists addiction medicine specialists occupational medicine Every one of the above services and professionals spend a large part of their time dealing with patients who have back pain. Those are all well paying jobs. I know from experience that smart people can get rid of back pain in a few months with the right care and the right motivation. The huge "back pain industry" is somet andhing we all might need at some point but overall it is something to be skeptical of or avoid if you can.
Consider this article about medical care in California. California To Use Pharmacists To Ease Dr. Shortage? There is a big scramble to change the rules and get new people to provide medical care for the millions who will suddenly have health insurance next year. (Obamacare) What the article doesn't address is whether any of these people will ever get an appointment to see a specialist. (Probably not til Walgreens starts hiring orthopedic surgeons.) So let's say you are 50 years old, unemployed and develop severe back pain. Do you think one of those newly liberated nurse practitioners is going to have much experience with what is best for your problem? She is not. And all the diligence and caring in the world on her part is not going to change that.
This is an era when people need to make a lot of decisions for themselves about their health. I'm trying to share and explain some common sense health resources that use basic principles rather than hype to help you take action for yourself. (See the "Very Small Library For The Patient Patient"
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